How to add a static HTML page to Wordpress

Your website may be designed using WordPress which is an awesome Content Management System. However, you may find that the theme you want to use doesn’t have the homepage you desire. The good news is that you can easily add an independent static page and make it your home page.

To successfully do this, you should already have a running WordPress website and a separate HTML template.  You can also learn how to use WordPress to make your website. Also, before making any changes to your website, ensure you have a backup.

Steps to take to add a static HTML file to WordPress

Step 1: Create an empty folder in the Cpanel ->File Manager -> public_html or example.com folder (if it is an addon domain). Thus,  in your URL, you can access the folder via example.com/home

Step 2: Then upload your static HTML template as a zip folder into the “home folder” you created. Select the upload icon that will redirect you to another page.

Step 3. Ensure you remove all the irrelevant files like the documentation, screenshots, images, and other pages. Just upload the specific page you want to upload and the CSS files.

Step 4:  Then unzip the folder, and extract the files in that “home folder” you created. Make all the relevant changes to the index.html page. Then add this line of code to the .htaccess file

#Custom default index page

DirectoryIndex index.html

or

Step 5: Change the index.html file to be index.php. Then add this line of code to the .htaccess file

RewriteRule ^(.*)index.(php|html?)$ /$1 [R=301,NC,L]

Step 6: After you have made all the changes you can copy and paste the files into the main root folder.

Step 7:  Reload the website.

Alternatively, if you just want to have an extra page, you can use the same procedure, but don’t copy and paste the files into the root folder and instead just leave it in the “home folder” and you will manage to find the page via example.com/home and it will show your unique page. You can also read this post if your website changes on Cpanel are not showing.

Should I make my WordPress homepage a static page or post page?

You may be wondering what your homepage should feature, either a post page or a static page. Well, it depends on the website that you are making. If you want it to fully be a blog, then make the homepage to showcase all your blog posts. However, if you want it to be a general website, but with a blog in it and other features, then put a static page as the homepage. You can do this by:

1. Accessing the dashboard by inputting your login details.

2) Then go to appearance -> customize 

There will be some options to choose homepage settings and choose whether you need the homepage to be a static page or post page. This is under the homepage section and post page section. Choose wisely.

3) Save and then reload the website

Ensure you also make some modifications to the site to make it better. Also, learn how to create a website on Cpanel.

I hope this was helpful. 🙂